TORONTO, Aug. 5, 2016 – As the 2016 Rio Olympic Games officially begin in Brazil, York University is proud to support four current and former students – and one honorary alumnus – all making an impact through sport, competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Brittany Crew, Arthur Biyarslanov, Melissa Pagnotta, Khamica Bingham, and Daniel Nestor will take on the world in their respective sport, everything from shot put and boxing to taekwondo, track and field and tennis.
“I am exceptionally proud of our students who have excelled in their sport, and who will shine as members of Team Canada,” said York University President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri, “The Olympic Games is an incredible opportunity to compete with the best in the world. I encourage all of our students, staff and alumni to join me in cheering for our athletes.”
Brittany Crew (Track & Field – shot put)
Brittany Crew, 22, is a two-time York U female athlete of the year. She won gold for shot put at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Championships in 2015 as well as in 2016, when sheset a national university record with a distance of 16.96m. She was a bronze medalist at the 2015 FISU Summer Universiade championships and was chosen 2016 team MVP; and twice chosen MVP at Canadian Interuniversity Sport events (2014-2015 and 2015-2016). @BrittCrew
Khamica Bingham (Athletics – track and field)
Khamica Bingham, 22, won a bronze medal in the 4x100m relay at the 2015 Pan Am Games, where she also placed 6th in the 100m sprint with a personal best of 11.13 seconds. At the 2015 IAAF World Championships, Bingham placed 6th in the 4x100m relay. She placed 4th in the 4x100m and 7th in the 100m at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. She is a five-time CIS championship gold medalist and holds the CIS record for the women’s 60m. @micabingham
Arthur Biyarslanov, 21, won a gold medal and the welterweight title at the 2015 Pan Am Games in a match against Yasnier Toledo of Cuba. He is a three-time Canadian Champion and placed 13th at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. @ArthurNoxchi
Melissa Pagnotta, 27, won gold medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, as well as the 2014, 2010 and 2008 Pan Am Games. @MelissaPagnotta
Daniel Nestor – (Athletics – tennis)
Daniel Nestor, 43, won a gold medal in men’s doubles at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He is a six-time Olympic competitor and an eight-time grand slam doubles champion. He received an honorary degree from York U in 2012. @DanielNestor9
York University is known for championing new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-discipline programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. York students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. York U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 26 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, York is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 295,000 alumni.
York U's fully bilingual Glendon campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.
Media contact:
Gloria Suhasini, Media Relations, 416 736 2100 ext. 22094, suhasini@yorku.ca
